Surgical splint.



H. T. BUCKNER.

SURGICAL SPLINT,

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2. WI].

LQQSAW Patented Oct. 16,1917] 3 nvewtoz HUBBARD T. BUCKNER, OF SEATTLE,WASHINGTON.

SURGICAL SPLINT.

Application filed are 2, 1917. Serial No. 172,547.

o and useful Improvement in Surgical Splints,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in surgical splints, and the objectof my invention is to provide a splint which shall I embody adjustableparts that may be moved to dispose them in different relative positions,as may be required in different surgical cases, to adapt said splintrigidly to maintain in required positions the different portions of theinjured one of the two arms of a person. 7

I accomplish this object by devices illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Y Figure 1 is a perspective view of a splint embodyingmy invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of the same in side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a view of the same in vertical section on broken line 3, 3 ofFig. 2; and

Fig. 4: is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of parts of the same.

Referring to the drawings, throughout which like reference numeralsindicate like parts, a frame made of a thin bar of metal is formed tohave side members 5 and 6 which diverge from a semi-circular portion 7,the side member 5 being longer than the side member 6 and its free endportion 8 being curved in a sidewise direction toward the plane of theside member 6 to terminate at a point distant from the free end of saidside member 6, as more clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The curved portion 8 of the side member 5 is provided with a slot 9 thatextends lengthwise thereof from a point near its free end to a pointnear the straight portion of said side member 5, through which slot 9 isdisposed to extend the shank of a clamping screw 10 that is adapted tobe slidably and adjustably moved to any desired position between theends of said slot 9.

Rigidly fastened to the inner end portion of the clamping screw 10 isthe base end portion of a bracket 11 which is provided with a rigidlyattached guiding member 12 that slidably engages with the side edges ofthe curved portion 8, while the outer end portion of the clamping screw10 is provided with a clamping wing-nut 13 which may serve in an obviousmanner releasably to fasten the base end portion of the bracket 11against the inner side surface of the curved portion 8 at any desiredpoint to which it may be moved.

The bracket 11 is formed to extend from its base portion toward thesemi-circular portion 7 for a short distance, thence at a right anglefor a longer distance through and beyond the plane .of the side member 6at a point spaced from the free end of said side member 6, as shown moreclearly in Fig. 1. I

Articulated to the free end of the side member 6 is one end of an arm 14that is 2 adapted to be swung to and from a normal position where it isspaced from and parallel with the oppositely disposed longer portion ofthe bracket 11.

A member 15 is made of a rectangular piece of sheet metal bent into theform of a semi-circle and having its opposite circular edge portions 16flared outwardly and having its opposite straight edge portions 17 eachreinforced by a metal bar 18 that is rigidly fastened to the outer sidesurface thereof.

The member 15 is further reinforced by two metal straps l9 rivetedthereto and disposed to extend around the exterior surface thereof fromthe outer side surface of one of the bars 18 to the outer side surfaceof the other of said bars 18 each adjacent to a different one of theoutwardly flared circular edge portions 16. p

Fixed in the central portion of each of the bars 18 to extend directlyoutward therefrom is a screw-threaded stud 20, and fixed in each of theopposite end portions of each of said bars 18 to extend through theadjacent end portion of the adjacent strap 19 is a dowel pin 21.

The member 15 is removably disposed between the arm 14: and the bracket11 where it is releasably and rigidly fastened by means of the dowelpins 21 and the screw-threaded studs 20 which project through holesprovided in said arm 14c and in said bracket 11, the screw-threadedstuds 20 being provided with wing-nuts 22 which are adapted to engagewith the outer sides respectively of the arm. let and bracket 11. 1

The member 15, with respect to the arm 14,

the bracket 11 and the frame, may be quickly changed from its positionshown by full lines "to extend in a semi circle therebetw'veen are twometal straps 24 and 25, respectively both of which are adapted tobebhanged from their positions shown by full lines iii Fig. 2 to thepositions'indic'ated respectively by dotted "lines 26 and 27 in saidFig. 2.

Thetvvostraps24aiid 25 are made of thin springy metal to adapt themtoyieldivhen the diverging side members 5 and 6 are moved toward eachotheror away fronreach other in response to changes in the position of thebracket 11 with respect tothe curved portion 8, Which changes maybe-inade to adaptthe splint better to fit an arm er any particular siZe.I p I I Manifestly,'tlie-parts ofthe splint illustrated by full lines inthe drawings are disposed to "adapt the splint to be ap'p'lied'to theriglit arm of a patientybut inverting or reversiii gthe positions oftheinember 15"and the straps 24L and 25' tocause themt'b assume therespective positions indicated by the dotted lines 23, 2'6 and 27 015Fig. 2 Will adapt the splint t o'be applied to the le'lit armor apatient. 7 a

applying the splint to a patients arm, the is properly bandaged anddisposed With the fore arm and hand extending between the side members'5and 6 from apoint neartl'ie semicircular portion 7 to a point thatwill permit thatportion ofthe arm just above the elbow to be disposedWithin the member 15 When the arm is bent approxil mately to a rightangle, and when the arm is so disposedthe bracket 11 is moved on the"curved portion sto fastened at a position best adapted to cause thesplint snugly to fit the contour of the arm, and thereupon the r-10Wrigid splint is securely lashed to the bandaged arm bya tape or suitablecord disposed to maintain the difierent portions of Asplint or the classdescribedivhich embodies a frame me'mber-formed ofa'single metal barthatis bent'at one portion of its length to form-a semi-circularportion-fromwhich extend two fdivergiiig side members of'difierentlengths, the freeend portion of the-longer side me'm'be'rbeing bent to 'eXtend throughthe plane of the s'horter'side member at afpoint 'sp'acedfromf tltefree-end of said shorter member a plurality e f flexibly yielding metalstraps p'ivot'ally-"att'ach-ed to said side members each to extend-inaseinicircle therebetweem'an angular'bracket adjustably clamped'to themiller side of said free end portion of said longer side memberone'portionof'said angularbracket being disposed toextend'throughand'beyond' the plane of saidsh'orter siden'iember at'apoint spaced from the end of said shorter side member an armhavin'goneof itsends pivotally attached "to i the free end of said '80 shorterside member and adapted to be swung to and froma piane paranel Withspaced from th'eplane'ofsaid one portion of said annular bracket; and asemicircular sheet metal'member releasablyplampedio '85 said 'pivotally"attached" arm and to said bracket'to ext'end therebetween. v In Witnesswhereof, I: hereunto subscribe my name this 26th day "of May, A.'D.'l91'7.

HUBBARD T. BUGKN'ER.

(Bonita bf this patent may he obtained "for five (:ents'eaiih,"byaddressi'ng' the Commissioner offatents, washinigtomn. C. r

